The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-05
LAMAR'S ANNUAL REPORT.
REFERENCE TO THE HOT SPRINGS
RESERVATION, ARK.
Applications for the Renewal OF Leases
on Permanent lighthouses and Bath
House Sites Recommended - Hot
Springs Greek.

ton, Ark:
With the appropriation eco 900 made in the act
OF August 4, 1886, "lor completion OF Improvement
OF Hot Springs creek" the culyelt which had been
constructed under prior appropriations, down TO
inc southern boundary OF the reservation. and
across Reserve avenue, was continued distance OF
GO linear feet ending about 100 feet north OF NAL
yen crossing. The filling between tho reservation
front and the wall OF the culyert was also com.
pleted, the entire area leveed and graded 10 the
street, gravel foot path laid and an mex pensye
post and chain fence constructed along the whole
length oil the reservation. When this space Is fur
ther improved, rs proposed by the superintendent,
by setting II in grass and shade trees IL will afford
pleasant aud attractive promenade
In my last report invited attention TO applica-
lions Tor renewal OF leases OF permanent bath
houses and OF bath-house sites which expired De-
cember 49, 1888, but upon which no action had
been taken In Difference TO Senate resolution Of
February % 1885, declaring II TO be the opinion Of
tie senate thal such leases should not be renewed
unless the Forty ninth Congress shall adjourn
without having legslated In reference thereto"
then stated that In order to remedy the uncertainty
OF tenure which had deferred the bath house man
agers from keeping their buildings and appliances
In a condition OF repair necessary TO the comfort
ana convenience OF their patrons / would renew
the leases II Congress at lis then approaching
session did not cglslnte TO the contrary. No lcgis
aton upon the subject was perfected, aud accord
ingy all the leases have been renewed excepting
that oil the Rector bath house fora period Of five
years, commencing from the expiration OF the
original lease, December Ii, 1888. Before these
leases were renewed the lighthouses were in
hItctcu by the superintendent and the leases
quired TO make repairs found 10 be necessary. The
repairs OF the Rector have not been made, and
therefore the lease OF that bath house has not yet
been renewed.
on five Of the available building sites upon the
reservation, which were leased In 1885 and lsSi no
lighthouses have yet boeu erected. During the
proach 10 these sites was DISTRACTED 60 an extent
which interiered with building operations and
the department did not insist upon compliance
with the terms Of the leases respecting the con.
ktrlCtlOu n buil1inHs haks hnan
removed by the completion OF the creek work. the
essecs oil these sites have been notified that their
buildings must be completed or their leases will be
annulled. When these houses are In operation IL
Is believed that the additional bathing facilities
they will provide will be amply sufficient TO nc.
cominodaie the increasing number OF invalid
by the act Of December 10, 1878, relating 10 the
reservation (Sats., vol. 30 p. 2S, the Secretary OF
the Interior was directed 20 lease TO the present
proprict0n of the Arlington hotel or their assigns
the grounds, not exceeding one acre, now occupied
by them, for period Of ten years unless otherwise
provided by law, ut an annual rental OF 81, 900"
The lease made under this authority will expire
December u, lSsS, and the question Of its renewal
will then demand consideration. ] deem II proper
that the attention Of Congress should DC directed TO
this subject, In order that there may be opportu-
nifty for timely legislation upon the subject
The act Of March =, lST Snts vol. 10, p. 330
provided for the appointment of superintendent 10
have change OF the reservation and authorized the
Secretary Of the Interior 10 fix n special tar on
water taken frOm thu springs upon the reservation
improvement OF the same. The act Of December ~
ISIS (yol 20, =. $50, fixed tho tax for use Of the
water AT t6 per tub per hnnum, and required that
the superintendent shall provide aud maintain a
sufficient number of free baths Tor the Use of the In
dgsn and the expense thereof shr be defrayed out
Of the rentals hercinbofore poyidcd for" The an
nual Income from water rents aud from ground
rent OF the Arlington hotel site Il Sl7S' This
amount T. barely sufficient 70 defny the salary OF
the superintendent and the expense OF maintain.
Ing and repairing the fnee bathing pools, leaving
ui aI tha
free bath house. i commend 20 your considera.
ton the following remarks upon this subject BY
the superintendent In his annual ruport
Il beg 10 invite the attention OF the secretary e..
pccially 70 the condition Of the building known as
tho free bath'house. This Is an institution set
apart by the government where tho poor and dis.
cascd may come and lake the baths without price
or question. Nearly or quito GO lndiyldunfs of
these CLASSES avail themselves Of this gracious priyl
isge daily aud ne number 3 getting larger 80 that
the time Is npldly coming when them viii not be
noon rail- This II made apparent by glance AT the
baiidlus which consists Of only four small rooms
pools arr 20 small lninc feet sqnarcl thai some.
times standing room n not 10 be had In them.
The building itself IL piece Of patchwork, Of
rude construction. thrown together at different
periods. the womens side being contracted, but
fairly comfortable otherwise, while the part set
aside for men i small. nimsy shhniy. uninhabit-
ancc and reality Is snnied. mean and
shabby. not IN accord with the benevolent
designs OF tho department. and unworthy 70
recommend that Congress be asked 81 approprale
the sum OF 5000 with which 20 erect upon the
present site free hath house with larger and bet
ter pools and rooms. whore that frieudlcS class OF
unIortunaies who are driven 20 Il by disease and
poverty may receive humane treatment In their
hgh, for health. can not imagine charity more
irEis"' '1 W y" ""''" WY ''''u '''"e'
concur in the Recommendation Of the supcrin.
tendeni that some provision should lie made for
improving the FIRE bath house aud In view 81 he
emergency disclosed In his statement IL would soen
most desirable that there should b. an amount i'm.
mediaicly available By appropriation by ConErcss
for that purpose. n the tan Tor use 81 the hot
water wcrc Increased by law there would, In time.
be a fund derived irom that sotirrs which could
DO applied 70 This muchncc,icd Improve.
melt During the time the rate OF TAI was ieft 10
the dis rctlnn of the department. 40 per tub ner
anuum wns raid by the lessee. of wrtsf priy,lcr,s
by Law TO sii pet tub. Irrcommend that the water
ner ,ub Der Isar would moi H. sn anrcs sa
rate.
A. in the annual rriort oi my pTIeossof attention
vas drcicd 70 the tact that three diihs OF the hot
water from thc. cssry alton nov runs 70 waste owing
poftioa Of he snpply 4 dcTl,cI md an spn,srris
lion was recommended foT providing ne plping.
rc.~rvolrs and pufnping uiarhinery rrapir,,.d ~
,a.ke IN. water ayaliabis H., ~ KY ne
hath houses 10 which ID viii not Al prs
emf aow by rrsyitatlon. The estlmatsd oo.i of the
propO-ed svsirm h All O0 anil rrre,. die r,-rotn.
nehastiot sf an REORGANIZATION n ,hnt .,,n,,, ~,
he pafpoe spseifed Ih@ MINI syailsbls .,,y.
piy 81 bot Wstcf Il hardly sufficient 10 meet the
,cauiupinenis of The hath house nov IN o~r.tion
and the army and navy hospital. The connection
aud Economical disfrl iutiou al All he ,,aier in
rluding thai whrh n NOV, wasted viii L. ,,s..sy,
~ meet The Increased demand when the urpl,fted
additional bath.housrs rcuuIrr asuppiy.
several applieatlons have tccn made 20 the de
bath houses on 81 the rcseryhilon In the pvrr psr
9, ne a,S ana many SID rsS'en' are Ei,en r "a,
nfiyIle.c 40 hc euntcd. Whether thrreior. snv